recommend a wireless card for desktop w/ sabayon? [Solved]

[anomaly65]

Hi all,

Looking at various options, moving desktop into small office without ethernet temporarily, have good coverage with netgear N (single 2.4 band routers, err, setup as just WAP + 4port gig E switches; just disable dhcp) boxes. (usually can find good "refurb" deals for 1/2 the original price anyway....no complaints about the netgear boxes as cheap WAPs or gig-e switches for the refurb price )

Anyone have a good recommendation for pci or pci-e-1x wireless card for a desktop box? I've always been very partial to Intel chips in my laptops, etc, with good results, usually $10-20USD more expensive, but usually worth it with linux support. Been a long time since I've swapped laptops/etc so haven't kept up. Used to be some issues with realtek chipsets, but that may not be the case these days.

Currently leaning towards "Intel Centrino Advanced N6205 Full/Half Height Brackets (62205ANHMWDTX1)" but would not mind paying 1/2 that price for semi-generic card/chipset with good linux support. Speed isn't the primary criteria, mostly just web surfing and email, some minor NFS access for doing backups to wired server (running sabayon too!).

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Centrino-Advanced-Brackets-62205ANHMWDTX1/dp/B007ZWL4A6/

Any advice appreciated, especially good advice

Thanks kindly!
andy

[Fitzcarraldo]

Well, I can't recommend a PCI or PCI-E WiFi card per se, but I concur with your partiality for Intel wireless chips (although I seem to recall one or two posts about the latest Intel WiFi controllers not yet working so well in Linux). However, controllers such as the PRO/Wireless 5300 AGN work very well; I have one in my main laptop and it is solid:

Code: Select all

meshedgedx fitzcarraldo # lspci | grep 5300
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 5300 AGN [Shiloh] Network Connection

I expect you've carried out 'due diligence' already, but, if not, it would be worth googling "gentoo" plus each of the newer Intel WiFi controllers listed on http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/.

From personal experience with Atheros wireless, I personally would avoid Atheros wireless controllers. I don't have any trouble with the AR9285 in my nettop (ath9k module), but the earlier Atheros (ath5k module) in my Belkin F5D5010 CardBus Network Card (AR2413/AR2414 AR5005G(S)) is a pain in the neck, and you'll see a recent thread in these forums about problems trying to install net-wireless/compat-wireless.

[anomaly65]

Thanks kindly I didn't do as much due diligence as I would normally. Just realized the need to move and checking numerous items on the list to do.

Wow, just noticed the whole wireless/networking subsection. oops. will search there as well....small misstep....

I'll do some digging around in the kernel to see what's included these days. Yeah, some lag in drivers, but usually pretty good when they're included... if I find sufficient info, I'll post and mark solved.

Cheers,
andy

[anomaly65]

"Intel Centrino Advanced N6205" arrived, installed and other than entering the WPA key, zero issues. card works fine. It really is a PCI-E adapter card to hold the laptop mini pci-e card along with a decent looking antennae and 1/2M cable. No complaints;-) Other than the goofball name.....

No real "distance" testing, but it reaches across the top floor of an old house and no noticeable lag loading maps/web pages, etc with much better signal strength than my intel wifi carded laptop (better antennae included with desktop card). Very cool. Intel as usual. And my AMD Phenom II x6 doesn't seem offended at all

[Fitzcarraldo]

Thanks for letting us know.